More and more travelers gravitate towards generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to assist in trip planning. Their ability to provide straightforward answers to complex questions makes them function almost as a travel agent – only much faster.
To kick off the loyalty program optimization track of the Direct Bookings Mastery Certification, we shared our exclusive guide on how you can go beyond the basic points-based hotel guest loyalty program model to meet rising guest expectations and drive more direct bookings. But what can you expect when you put those core strategies into practice?
Influence Society will host a breakfast for hospitality executives on September 11, 2025, at Spring Place in New York City. The forum will convene executives from across the industry for a focused morning session mixing AI, digital design, and guest experience. With speakers from Webflow, Firmdale Hotels, Hotel Hugo, and a surprise speaking guest,, the AI & the Art of Hospitality event will explore how emerging technologies and digital marketing are redefining the way hotels attract, engage, and retain guests.
Plusgrade, a global leader in ancillary revenue solutions, today announced the launch of its newest product collection: a bold expansion of new and enhanced capabilities designed to unlock more value at every step of the traveler journey.
Today marks the official launch of Agentic Hospitality, a transformative new force that is redefining hotel distribution with its infrastructure-level AI deployment, empowering hotels and resorts to reclaim the guest journey––that was long dominated by Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)––and drive visibility and direct bookings. In collaboration with Google for Startups Cloud Program, Agentic Hospitality is tackling the evolving digital landscape head-on and enabling hotels to become discoverable and competitive on the increasingly dominant AI-native surfaces that are rapidly reshaping how consumers search and book travel.
If the hotel industry had a relationship status with rate parity, it would be: “It’s complicated.”
SiteMinder, the world's leading hotel distribution and revenue platform, has opened a new office in Mexico, marking a significant expansion of its Latin American operations. The office serves as a strategic hub, strengthening SiteMinder's presence across multiple countries at a time when properties connected to the platform in Latin America have grown by over 30% in the past two years.
The definition of ‘value’ in hospitality is being rewritten in real time by today’s travelers. There is no better place to witness this inflection point than Las Vegas. A city legendary for its constant reinvention and comebacks, the recent market data isn’t a sign of decline; it’s the catalyst for its next great act.
Virtuoso, the leading global network specializing in luxury and experiential travel, has drawn upon its extensive network of travel agencies and advisors, preferred partners and high-net-worth/ultra-high-net-worth clientele to determine what’s new and next in luxury travel. The latest findings offer a clear view into what’s driving the industry in 2025 and what to expect through the rest of the year and beyond. Revealed during the 37th annual Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas – revered as “the Fashion Week of Luxury Travel” – Virtuoso based its findings on its data warehouse of (US) $90 billion in transactions and an ongoing series of advisor and consumer surveys.
In today’s competitive hospitality market, simply having a Facebook or Instagram page isn’t enough. Hotels need more than likes and shares — they need a strategy that turns attention into actual reservations and group event leads.
Lighthouse, the leading commercial platform for the hospitality industry, has been selected by Rotana Hotels & Resorts as their preferred rate intelligence provider. The partnership marks a significant milestone as Rotana implements Lighthouse's Rate Insight solution integrated with iDeas G3 across their portfolio of properties.
Ayala Land Hospitality (ALH), the hospitality arm of Ayala Land, Inc., has partnered with IDeaS, a SAS company and the world’s leading provider of hospitality revenue management software and services, as part of its broader transformation strategy to strengthen commercial capabilities and future-proof its growing hotel and resort portfolio in the Philippines.
Triptease and Revinate, two leaders in hotel marketing technology, today announced a strategic partnership designed to accelerate direct bookings across the entire guest journey. The collaboration brings together a range of complementary data-driven solutions that help hotels to maximize direct revenue and reduce dependence on online travel agencies (OTAs).
Hotel decision-makers in 2025 face an uncomfortable truth: the old playbook isn’t working anymore. Labor shortages, consumer spending shifts, and rising operational costs are testing every property’s ability to maintain profitability.
For-Sight, a leading provider of CRM and marketing solutions for the hospitality industry, is proud to announce the expansion of its partnership with GuestRevu, the multi-award-winning guest feedback and reputation management platform. As part of this strengthened collaboration, GuestRevu is now available as an add-on feature for both existing and new For-Sight customers.
Cvent, a global industry-leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider, successfully hosted the fourth edition of Cvent Accelerate Sydney at The Fullerton Hotel on Wednesday, 16 July 2025. The event attracted over 460 event planners, marketers, and hospitality professionals, setting a new attendance record and highlighting the growing momentum in the MICE industry.
ProposalPath, the hospitality industry’s most widely adopted proposal platform, today introduced ProposalPath Assistant, a built-in AI feature that transforms how hotel sales teams respond to RFPs and client requests. Powered by applied artificial intelligence and built specifically for hospitality, the assistant generates fully-branded, interactive proposals in under one minute—from virtually any input.
With mobile devices now central to how we bank, browse, and interact, it’s no surprise that guest expectations are evolving fast - and technology is evolving even faster. Hoteliers need solutions that do more than just keep up - they need solutions that stay ahead.
Key Takeaway: Your GEO should build on top of your SEO strategy.
Three members of our leadership team from Cogwheel attended The HSMAI Commercial Strategy Conference in Indianapolis in June 2025. The conference was dominated by three major themes: artificial intelligence’s impact on marketing, the realignment of commercial strategy through data storytelling, and the growing need for authenticity in audience segmentation. Each insight reflects not only where the hospitality industry is headed but also what hotel marketers and revenue teams must do now to remain competitive.